Christine McVie Had No Memory Of Recording 1 Fleetwood Mac Album

Life in a rock band is fast-paced and unpredictable. If you’re not writing, recording, or mixing, you’re likely touring the world, performing for massive audiences. In the whirlwind of rock and roll, it’s easy to overlook some details of life on the road. But forgetting an entire album? That’s something only a band like Fleetwood Mac—known for their drama, drug use, and tension—could pull off.

Fleetwood Mac might have started as a blues band led by Peter Green, but their legacy is more often tied to their ‘70s hits. Iconic records like Rumours, Tusk, and their self-titled 1975 album shaped the rock sound of the decade. But along with their hit music came intense personal conflicts. The band was notorious not just for their chart-topping tracks but also for the explosive relationships within the group, especially between Christine and John McVie.

Love, Loss, and Drugs: The McVie Marriage

John McVie, a longtime member of the band, brought his wife, Christine McVie, on board in 1970. She quickly became one of Fleetwood Mac’s standout talents, writing many of their biggest hits and playing a crucial role in their success. However, the band’s meteoric rise took a toll on their marriage, leading to their split in 1976.

Imagine being in a band with your ex-spouse, constantly surrounded by other members who were also dealing with personal issues, fueled by drugs and alcohol. It’s no surprise that certain memories of this chaotic period are hazy for Christine McVie—especially when it comes to their 1982 album, Mirage.

A “Strange Record”: Recording Mirage in a Haunted Studio

After the tension-filled years of recording Rumours and Tusk, Mirage was supposed to be a fresh start. Mick Fleetwood aimed to recreate the collaborative magic of their Rumours sessions by having the band record in a more controlled, focused environment. “That was Mick’s idea,” McVie shared in a 2017 interview with Mojo. “We could get back to that bubble idea again, like we did in Sausalito with Rumours.”

Despite this attempt at creating a healthier atmosphere, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned. McVie described Mirage as a “strange record,” noting that the recording process was fuzzy in her memory. “I don’t have many memories of it,” she admitted. One quirky detail she did recall, though, was recording in a studio rumored to be haunted by the ghost of author George Sand. “Me and [producer] Ken Caillat would sit in the studio at night with a bottle of Courvoisier waiting to hear noises. Nothing came,” she laughed.

Mirage: A Success Despite the Drama

Though Mirage was far from a smooth production, it still found commercial success. However, the underlying tension in the band made the process difficult. McVie’s memory loss could easily be chalked up to the drugs, the stress, or the strained relationships that defined that period in Fleetwood Mac’s history. Regardless, the band managed to produce music even when they were falling apart behind the scenes.

In the end, Mirage stands as a reminder that, sometimes, great music can come from the most dysfunctional of places and situations.